Four fire giants, striding into the mall as if they owned it. People were scattering from their path, perhaps because of their attitude, perhaps because one of them was carrying a baseball bat.

“If they start a fight here, I won’t be happy,” I said to Abdul.
“We could disappear easily enough. I can just leave and I’ve not seen your illusion abilities.”

I laughed a bit at his phrasing. “If we do, they might just smash the place up in pique, though.”

“True. There’s only four of them.”

“But a lot of civilians in the way. Clara!”

She turned.
“Trouble.” I indicated them as they approached us.

“Okay. Let me think here. I could try and make them go beddy bye?” she suggested.

A sleep spell very much appealed as a way of dealing with the situation. I nodded.

She murmured an incantation, then shook her head. “They’re warded.”

Probably objects, I thought. If I could relieve them of their protections. They were clearly here to fight.

Now I was paying attention, too, that wasn’t a baseball bat. It was a nasty looking mace, and I was sure the others were equally well armed.
Four against three was good odds if we could only, somehow, deal with the civilians. Abdul was making some odd gestures with his hands that I had to assume were his kind of magic.

“I have a better idea than magic,” I said suddenly. “You guys try to keep them occupied.”

Because I didn’t want to interrupt what Abdul was doing and Clara was clearly wracking her brain for another spell. I activated the strongest ‘I’m not here, you can’t see me’ I could and ducked into the crowd, which were heading away from the area in a wave.

Fortunately for me I was going in more or less the same direction. Okay. Emergency exit. It had to be there…and it was.

One fire alarm handle. And if they were following me? Well, I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t care if they saw me do it.

I pulled the alarm.

A moment later a sprinkler system activated over the food court.

I hadn’t anticipated that part. I’d have to apologize to Abdul and Clara.

Later.